Does anyone use tire chains on their UTV

[ernemats]

I have a Polaris Ranger 500 and I was thinking about putting a set of tire chains on the rears. I have some real steep trails and driveway . If anyone uses chains what type is best and is there any problem with clearances.

 

[biffnh]

I have a Polaris Ranger 500 and I was thinking about putting a set of tire chains on the rears. I have some real steep trails and driveway . If anyone uses chains what type is best and is there any problem with clearances.

I plowed for two winters without chains with my RTV X900 and Boss V-Plow, but last winter we had enough ice after snowing that I ended up purchasing chains for the rear. It makes stopping easier and more secure. I've never been stuck, even without the chains, but I do enjoy having the security of the chains. I plow over a mile of dirt road with almost 300 feet of elevation change. I purchased my from Miller tire: 25x8-12, 25x1-12 ATV Snow Tire Chains

 

[John_Mc]

I've has good luck with these guys for chains on my tractors. They do ATV chains as well:
tirechain.com

If lateral (side-to-side) traction is an issue for you (if you do a fair amount of operating on side hills), you may want to spend the extra for the diamond pattern chains. The studs on the ladder-style chains help some with lateral traction, but it's hard to beat the diamond pattern, or a similar pattern that has something other than just cross chains.

 

[ernemats]

I have purchased tire chains for my power trac from tirechains.com as they are only about 15 miles away. I will probably go with the standard 2 link space chains if I decide to buy any.

 

[mbergeon]

What kind of shape are your tires in?

I put chains on my foreman, then the next spring bought new rims and tires thinking I'd just switch tire out fall & spring.

The new tires were radials and work great in the snow plowing.

 

[Msamt]

I have yet to get my ranger 570 stuck with stock tires - rain, mud, water, rocks, snow, ice, it just pulls right through it uphill or down. The only close call was entering a mud pit in one wheel drive, just flip it into 4 wheel and it crawled right out, up a slippery hill on the outbound side.
MT

 

[ernemats]

Tires are ok probably about 70% tread on them, I was just wondering how much difference chains would make mainly on going up and down hills on hard packed snow or ice.

 

[DIXIEDOG]

Tires are ok probably about 70% tread on them, I was just wondering how much difference chains would make mainly on going up and down hills on hard packed snow or ice.

Huge difference I run diamond studded ice chains on 825i and after things get packed down and icy it's the only way to go.

International Chain & Cable - ATV Tire Chains

I run the same chains on my Kubota BX on the rears in the winter as well

 

[ArlyA]

why mess around with less capable traction options? :laughing:

 

[ernemats]

Price and don't need that often.

 

[timswi]

Never actually needed chains on my RTV's regardless of weather or conditions and everything around here is a hill..

 

[DIXIEDOG]

Never actually needed chains on my RTV's regardless of weather or conditions and everything around here is a hill..

A bit of ice changes everything. My RTV 500 moved a good amount of snow until there was a thin coat of ice on the ground. I started with the work site tires and later purchased a set of the factory atv tires as well after hearing multiple success stories about them. Neither set provided sufficient traction for plowing or trudging through the deep stuff. My Gator 825 didn't need chains either until we had an ice storm, after I slid sideways down the driveway and put a nice dent in my hybrid snowmobile trailer I didn't think I needed them on that either. My trailer still has it's dent and now my Gator wears chains in the winter as do both of my tractors. :laughing:

 

[ernemats]

What type of chains did you get for your Gator? Do they seem like they help a lot?

 

[DIXIEDOG]

What type of chains did you get for your Gator? Do they seem like they help a lot?

I went with atv diamond studded chains and they help a ton...I had the same style chain on my Kubota RTV and I also have a set on my Kubota BX

International Chain & Cable - ATV Tire Chains

 

[RoyJackson]

why mess around with less capable traction options? :laughing:

Mostly because chains might be a couple hundred bucks...tracks are a few thousand (or more) bucks!

 

[RoyJackson]

A bit of ice changes everything. My RTV 500 moved a good amount of snow until there was a thin coat of ice on the ground. I started with the work site tires and later purchased a set of the factory atv tires as well after hearing multiple success stories about them. Neither set provided sufficient traction for plowing or trudging through the deep stuff. My Gator 825 didn't need chains either until we had an ice storm, after I slid sideways down the driveway and put a nice dent in my hybrid snowmobile trailer I didn't think I needed them on that either. My trailer still has it's dent and now my Gator wears chains in the winter as do both of my tractors. :laughing:

You ought to post or link to that YouTube video you have...IIRC, you posted right after you got your BOSS plow.
Still have that plow? And the Gator?